Steam trap



March 3, 1931. w, PARKS 1,794,918

' STEAM TRAP Filed June 10, 1927 a sheets-sheet 1 ZUxZZr iamka W. PARKSSTEAM TRAP March 3, 1931.

Filed June 10, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 WaZZW' Par/6a.

611101 we q Patented Mar. 3, 1931 NHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTERPARKS, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR T0 VAPOR CAR HEATING GOM- PANY,INCL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK STEAM TRAPApplication filed June 10,

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of steamtraps or vapor regulators of the type employed for thermostatiallyreducing steam from a high pressure to atmospheric pressure; as forexample in heating systems where the steam is supplied at a highpressure and reduced to atmospheric pressure in the radiators. Inheating systems like those employed in railroad passenger cars, steam issupplied at a high pressure and reduced to substantially atmosphericpressure before it is delivered to the radiators or heating coils. Themeans for reducing the pressure is thermostatically controlled and is115 provided with a thermostatic responsive element that is located inthe path of the exhaust steam of the radiator. When the temperature ofthe steam as it leaves the radiator falls below a predetermined minimum,a valve is opened between the radiator and high pressure line so as toadmit high pressure steam to the radiator. When this valve is opened,flow of steam through the radiator will comr mence and soon as the steamthat escapes from the radiator exceeds a predetermined temperature, thevalve is automatically closed.

' It is evident that the smaller the variations that are permitted inthe temperature of the escaping steam, the better the regulation will beand the higher the eiiiciency of the heating plant.

This invention briefly'described consists of a valve that is designed sothat it may be located in the passageway from the high pressure steamsupply to the radiator. This valve has mcans for normally holding it inopen position and means tormoving it to closed position, which lastmentioned means is controlled by the temperature of the steam as itescapes from the radiator. The valve is so arranged that it opensagainst the pressure in the high pressure line and therefore when it isseated, the pressure of steam tends to hold it in a closed posit-ion.This is a very important consideration'in valves of this type for thereason that if the valves are so made that they close against the highpressure steam,

there will be wiredrawing when the valve is 1927. Serial No. 197,852.

about to close. This wire-drawing has a tendency to destroy thevalveseat and the packing and will very soon destroy the efficiency ofthe valve whereas if the valve opens against the pressure in the highpressure line and seats with the pressure, the pressure of the highpressure steam will force it against its seat thereby assuring acomplete cutofl and obviating all danger of wire-drawing.

In order to more clearly described my in vention and its operation,together with its advantages, references will now be had to theaccompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiments have beenillustrated and in which Fig. 1 isa vertical sectional view showing myvalve in assembled position.

Fig. 1A is a section of the non-freezing drip or nozzle through whichthe steam finally escapes.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 22 Fig. l and shows the valve to asomewhat enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line33 Fi Fig. 4 is a section taken on line4.-4 F i F g. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 Fig F 1g. 6 is a sectiontaken on line 6-6 F ig. 1.

F ig. 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 Fig. 1 and Fig. 8 is a sectionthrough a portion of the thermostatic element showing the same to asubstantially full scale.

Numeral 1 designates what may be termed the body member of the valve.This has been shown as forming an elbow having an upwardly extendingportion whose tophas been designated as numeral 2 and a horizonta armwhose end has been designated as numeral The upper end portion containsthe h igh pressure valve mechanism and has been provided with twochambers 4 and 5 which are separated by a partition 6. The partitionWall 6 has an opening 7 that is concentric with chambers 4 and 5. Thisopening has an enlarged portion whereby a shoulder 8 is formed. The endnearest chamber 5 is provided with a threaded portion 9. A cylindricalvalve bushing 10 extends through the opening 7 and has an annular flange11 that rests against the shoulder 8. This bushing is holderis-preterably madesquare as indicated with numeral. '16 so that it canbe readily engaged by means of a wrench when partsare assembled. A cap17 1S provlded intermediate its ends wlth an outwardly 'extendlngshoulder 18 and has its open end threaded soas to form athreadedengagement at 19 with the open endof chamber The outer end ofch'amber4'hasa threaded openinglf) whichis closed'bymeansol a plug 20.This plug has a central opening for the reception f the cylmdricalstem:21 o't'the valve. The

- valve bushing is provided with a seat'22 on the end that communicateswith the interior o'fthe bushing holder. The i'novable valve ine-mberhas acircular cylindrical portion 23 'that ha-s an easy sliding-fit withthe cylindrical ope'ning'in the valve bushing 10. Thiscylindri'calportion is substantially the same length as the valvebushing and has anextension 24 of small diameter that' pr'eje'cts uneans of nuts 27'.

into"the i11terior'of the bushingholder. The reduced portion 24 has anannular shoulder 25 adjacent the endof the cylindrical-part 23.

This shoulder forms an abutment for a removable part that has beendesignatedby numeral26. This part hasal'recess inZt-he end ad acent theshoulder 25 andwithin this recess is located a washer 27 which may beformed :otleather, fibre or any other suitable ina- .terlal, \VlllOl'Lwhen it engages the valve seat 22, willio'rm a good steam-tight-seal.Part 26 is secured to the cylindrical apart by The stem .21 whichextends through the interior of plug 20is5profor the reception of a:pivot pin 30 that proe'cts through the spacef3lbetween'the'fingers 32ot a pivotedlever which will be 'h'er'eiir after more particularlydescribed. The inner end of plug-2O is provided withta stufiingbox'whose cap has'been'designa-ted'iby numeral 33 and may "be providedatits outer.

end with an annular recess'eontaining some fibrous material 34 whichmayrbersaturated with oil for the purpose 10f lubricating ithe stem 21.Cylindrical zpart 23 is provided with a plurality of depressions 'orgroo'ves 35 through which steam may pass and from which itmay fiowmtotheradial openings 36 in the valve'bushlng. This arrangem'ent is shown moreclearly in Figure 3*which' is a section tat-ken through e'penings 36.'Wh'en the parts are in the positifon sho'wniinm igures 1 and '2;steainmay-zpess' frem'theuugh pressure steam pipe 37 into the highpressure chamber 5 and thence through the screen 15 and openings 14;pass through the opening between valve seat 22 and'the washer 27, thencethrough the grooves 35 and the openings 36 into low pressure chamber '4,from which it will flow through the low pressure pipe 88 into a radiator(not shown).

Thebodymember 1,has two spaced upwardly extending flanges 39 and 40between which is locate'd'th'e stem '41 ofthe supporting anember havingtwo spaced upwardly extending arms 42, Figure 5. The stem 41'is-clainped betweensides 39 and 40 by means of bolts 43. The upper endsof the arms 42 are provided with apertures for the sreception of pivotpin 44. Pivoted on the pin bolt 45 held :'in adjusted position by "alock nut 46. The :lo-wer end of bolt 45 "is pro vided with a groove in"which =is secured washer "against E-WlfllCh the upper end of spring 48abuts. The-'lower 'endof: this spring rsurrounds :an'zupward :lug 49.Spring '48 is under'compress1on and ten'dst-ormovethe :free

end of zlever B upwa'rdlyj; this of course tends to move :the arm "CtQWtHd'atllQ right (Figure-i1) it'hereb-y moving ithe valve membe-rtoopen :position. It is'evident from the above description that unlesssome external force :1s applied that 'Wlll. overcome the action of thespring 48, the valve Wlll remain in an open .position thereby allowingsteam "to-flow from high pressure pipe 37 'to low vided atits outer; endwith a head 28 that has i two spaced fingers 29 which :are perforatedpressurepipeBSthat:connects'witlrtheradiator. Itis evident'thatdf the"valve remained open constantly, there would be an unnecessarilylarge-amount of steam flow through the radiator and consequently agreatloss of heat. Attention isealled to the fa ctthat spring'48 is solocated that it is constantly surroundedbyair and'therefore it willretain 1ts temper and resiliency indefinitely, whereas 1t 1t 1s loci ted1n the steampassage,

mined va-lue.

The end 3*otbodymember"1 is provided with a elramber 50 which isprovided on one si clewith anopenin'g 51 which ist hrea'ded for thedeception er one end of pipe 52 which c'oneects with *an exhaust:opening in .the radiator.

The steam that flows from chamber at and through passage 38 will passthrough the radiator and after ithas passed through the radiator, itwill flow through pipe 52 into chamber which may therefore be designatedas the exhaust chamber. The lower'wall of chamber 50 is provided with anopening to which is threadedly connected a short piece of pipedesignated by numeral 53. To the lower end of this pipe is threadedlyconnected the upper end 54: of a hollow casting 55. The lower portion ofthis casting has a cylindrical wall 56 which is provided at spacedintervals with pairs of outwardly extending lugs 57 between which arepivotally connected bolts 58. These bolts are provided with winged nuts59 and with thick washers 60 whose upper surfaces 61 are cylindricallyconvex. A cover member 62 is provided with a plurality of pairs ofoutwardly projecting lugs 63 between which the bolts. 58 may pass. Thelower sides of these lugshave concave recesses which are adapted toreceive the convex surfaces 61 of the washers 60. This cover may beforced against the lower edge ofthe cylindrical wall 56 by the action ofthe clamping bolts 58 and the winged nuts 59. The upper surface of cover62 is provided with a groove 64 which contains a ring 65 of somesuitable gasket material. hen the cover 62 is clamped against the openedge of the cylindrical end 56, a tight chamber is formed. This chamberhas been designated by numeral 66 and will be referred to hereafter asthe diaphragm chamber. Cover 62 is provided with a circular threadedopening 67 which is cooperatively associated with an adjusting screw 68.Secured to the upper end of the adjusting screw is a circular seat 69which is provided with an upwardly e35 tending flange 70 and is alsoprovided with a plurality of openings 71. Supported on this seat is athermostatic element which has been designated in its entirety byreference number 72. "This element consists of a section of accordianpleated metal tubing 73 of the kind known to the trade as sylphontubing. The lower end of this tubing is soldered to the outwardlyextending flange 74 of a pressed metal member which has an upwardlyextending conical side 75 that extends between the flange 74 and thebottom 76. "lhe'inembe-r formed by parts 7a, 75 and 76 has theappearance of an inverted pan whose bottom is represented by numeral 76and whose top has the outwardly extending flange 74. A circular plate 77which is slightly upwardly convex has its outer edges soldered to thesylphon at 78. This assembly forms a thermostatic element having ahermetically sealed chamber which is normally full of air. Plate 77 isprovided with an upwardly extending lug 79 which is provided withanopening 80. Secured to the under side of the flange 75 is an annularring 81. If opening 80 is sealed so that air cannot escape, it isevident that the air contained within the thermostatic element willincrease in volume when the temperature increases; the expansion of theair will raise the convex plate 77 and thereby increase the distancefrom the bottom to the top of this element. As this element in actualconstruction has an outside diameter of over l inches, it is evidentthat the expansion of the air will exert considerable force and thisforce is taken advantage of for the purpose of closing the high pressuresteam valve.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, it will be observed that arod 82 has the upper end connected with the free end of the lever arm Aby means of a pivot pin 83. This rods extends through an opening 8 t inthe upper end of the exhaust chamber 50 and passes downwardly throughthe interior of pipe 53. The lower end of rod 82 rests on the uppersurface of a cup 85-whose bottom is slightly concave so as to fit theupper convex surface of plate 77. A pin 86 extends upwardly from thecenter of the cup 85 and projects into an opening in the lower end ofrod 82. When the thermostatic element is collapsed, spring 48 willoperate to keep the high pressure steam valve in open position in themanner. above explained.

Let us now assume that pipe 37 is connected to a source of high pressuresteam and that the parts are in the position shown in Figure 1. Thissteam after passing through the radiator will finally enter exhaustchamber 50 and flow downwardly through pipe 53 into the diaphragmchamber 66 and after passing around the thermostatic element 7 2 willflow outwardly through the exhaust pipe 87 whose upper end is threadedlyconnected with sides of an opening 88 in the cover 62. As thetemperature of the then mostatic element increases, due to theincreasing temperature of the steam, the air enclosed within thiselement will begin to expand and as it expands, it moves the plate 77upwardly thereby forcing the rod 82 to more upwardly and to rotatelevers A, B and C in a clockwise direction against the tension of spring48. This movement of the parts will *ause the valve to move toward theseat 22 and when the temperature surrounding the thermostatic elementhas attained the prepredetermincd heat, for example 2631 degreesFahrenheit, the high pressure valve will close thereby preventing thefurther flow of steam through the radiator. As soon as the high pressuresteam ceases to flow, the steam within the radiator and the pipes 38 and52 will continue to expand and reduce the temperature. When the steamreaches the diaphragm chamber 66, and the temperature has been reducedto 201 degrees Fahrenheit, the thermostatic element will be collapsed to--1n =the-eleme nt. Whenthis tern )eratnrehas such an extent that sprain48 il im ti'on .to again open the -valvefiaetween the high pressure lineand the-radiator. The flow of livesteam-W il-L soon inorease thetemperature until: the (valve closes and we will therefore havefiaCOHtiIlHOHS opening andclosing-action whichwill lreepithe-temperatureof the radit-ator andiofithe eseapingsteam;constant'within a ,verynarrow Jim-it. JIn/ordertoprotect the thermostatic,elementjromgbeingdirectly impinged upon by .means of exhaust steam, I have providedaadeflectg'or 89 of conical shape whose-vertex is proyidedwitharcylindrical extension e90 -that surrounds the rod 82 and which may be,secured to the latter by solder or-iany-ether {suitable way. The lowerend of theldefiector is ofsuch, diameter that it extends outwardlybeyond the therrmos aticielemen iand-alsoibeyond theoutsid10f,theupwardlyrextendingflange IZOL I A flexible :hose connection 901extends if oln the lowervend iof pipe {87 to the upper enduot' nQzzleor'drip 19 1. 1 This nozzle has fan b tavardly flaring portion 92 that is,suspended at short distance from lthe rail onwhijch ,the

v901 terms :a seal which ;p1'Q Q t at-interior .oflthe diaphragm ichamber 266 from :the :ex-

ternaltemperature. in, orderlto .furthe r .protectitlieidiaphragm,chamber from ,theldisturbinginfluences.oftthe-surrounding atmosphere, I have enclosedthe same in a housingconsistingbf a conical top portion 93 and a downwardlyextending.cylindrical wall 94. j The parts 93. and -94 ,form .a Y portion whichmay betermed awind shield .whose" function it is, to prevent the s rongcurrents of air striking the exterior ofthe'diaphragm chamber. Theadjusting screw 68 i-s vprovided at a lower end with ;a slot 95 through{which 21 'seal-ingelement may beextendod. The object is vtoiseal this vadjusting screw after .the parts have. been adjusted so iticannot beta1nlpcred -with by anylunauthorized person.

In the manufacture of thermostatic \element 1-2, this e ement is subjeda a predetermined tQlIiPGIfLtLlI-B while the opening 18Oin=the lug 7 9is still unsealed. Thisperzmits' the air within the elementto becomeheatedto this temperature without expandbeen attained, the. opening 80is-sealed. :This is accomplishedbyinserting ascrew ;96 withintheope'ning SO-andthen coveringithe head of the screw with solder, whichhas been represented by 97. (hen theithcrmostat is property adjusted(and (sealed, .it will be exfceeding ly responsivez totemperaturechanges andl have found that. the high pressureralve ;wil1;be opened andclosed on a temperature cvariation'of lessthantwo degrees jFahrenhe it.

1 Since he. thermostatic elemi ta a heated to .a considenabledegr h orit w sealcii ziszexrident that when w the temperature jails below thatat which it was; sealed, that the pressure within theelen ent will belowatmospher c pressure vand therefore at such lowtemperature,theelenientWill have a tendenoyto collapse. XVhen the temperature is low-however,thetop cover nember 77 rests upontheouteriedgerofthe bottom 7 6 wherethis connects with sides 7:5 in the manner shown in 8. This prevents thehigh pressurelvalyei troin becoming unduly opened and also reducestheyariationinthe lengthof the I thermostatic element so as .to v preventthe sides from being subjectedrto unnecessary strains which would be thec ase f they were permitted ,to :beco ne rfully collapsed;

I have called attentionito lthe diaphragm deflector '89 which protectsthe thermostatic element from the incoming vapor and .the

water of condensation with which this is .accompanied. This is. quiteimportant because 1t keeps the :thermostatlo element .dry and 'thereforeitgis in. condition ,to quickly respond .to temperature changes, whereasif itwere permitted to become/revered with watertoi condensation, theevaporation of this water wouldhayea tendency'to cool,the;element andthereby retard its operation. 7

Althoughl have-not shown the radiator: as

connected to the device l have explained that .the pipe 38. extendsto.the radiator and that another pipe 52 extends vfrom the exhaust :inthe radiator to :the exhaust chamber 50.

For the purpose of,thisdescriptio-n, pipe 38 represents (the radiatorand 1 want it distinctly understood vthat thefa nountof radia- 7 tionsurface .isimmaterial. as far as this in- ,as explained, ,my :devicewill function admirably as esteem t ap i whic the Wa of c ndensationentersthrough pip 3 an flows from chambers to chamber and then th ghashor cir ni ing .pip int th se ;haustchamber 50 from whiohit passesoutwardly through pipe53.;2u1dthr0ugh1the diaphrag nchamber 6,6. "Theparts can be so ad]usted-,that}as soonasjthe water passes throughchamber 66 the Valve hetween ehamher 5 ,andA Willautomatically'openflout ,as soon asthe waterhas been-drained andlivecsteamiheg n tosfl iiuth tempe atur o h s am will caus ithe alve t Tlesc- W t t ar angem nt, my device a above exp n can Ic -empl yed aastmmtrap which ill permit the Waterto escape and at'thesame time willpr entthe los ;o anyzeppreciab mcu o steamc "ilromitheahoveit\willfbeg-apparent that I h v pro n eda very simplecontrn d vi .by.meanof which r etemperati 'f -radiator may be maintained approximatelyconstant at all times and in which the high pressure valve will bepositively seated against thevalve seat and will be acted upon by thehigh pressure steam to keep it from opening. The fact that the valveseats with the pressure instead of against it prevents wire-drawing andtherefore makes it possible to maintain the valve seat in serviceablecondition for a much longer period than would be possible it the valveclosed against the pressure.

I also want to call particular attention to the construction of thethermostatic element which contains air instead of a volatile fluid suchas is ordinarily employed for this purpose. By making this element ofconsiderable diameter, it is possible to obtain as great a force as isnecessary for the purpose of open ing the-high pressure valve and sinceair is very susceptible to temperature changes, the thermostatic elementwill control the operation of the high pressure valve within a verysmall limit of temperature variation.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new is: V

1. A'regulator for controlling the flow of steam comprising incombination, a body member provided with two chambers, one of which isadapted to be connected with the source of steam and the other of whichis adapted to be connected to a radiator, said chambers being separatedby a partition having an opening, a movable valve member extendingthrough said opening, said valve member having an enlarged head locatedwithin the chamber that is connected with the source of steam wherebywhen the valve member is moved to closing position, it moves towards thechamber connected with the radiator, the other end of the valve stemextendmg through the other wall of the low pressure chamber, meanscomprising a lever and a spring for normally holding the valve in openposition and thermostatic means for moving the valve towards closedposition against the tension of the spring whenever the thermostaticmeans is subjected to a temperature above a predetermined value.

2. A device for controlling the flow of steam from a high pressuresupply to a radiator operating at a lower pressure, compr1sing a bodymember having a chamber mcom' munication with the high, pressure supply,another chamber in communication with the radiator, a partitionseparating said chambers, said partition having an open1ng, a movablevalve member in said opening, sa1d member having an enlarged portionwithin the high pressure chamber, and a stem extending through the lowpressure chamber, to the outside thereof, means comprismg a spring andlever for exerting a force tending to move the valve member farther intothe high pressure chamber, means comprising a thermostatic element formoving the valve member towards closing position, and a shield enclosingthe thermostat.

3. A device for controlling the flow of steam comprising, in combinationa body member having three separate chambers, two of which are adjacentto each other and separated by a partition, said partition having anopening controlled by a valve, said valve comprising a movable memberextending entirely through one chamber and into the other, the lastnamed chamber being adapted to be connected with a source of highpressure steam supply, means comprising a spring and a lever for holdingthe valve in open position, a thermostatic device located in apassageway from the third chamber, means for connecting the thermostatto the valve so that the valve will be opened and closed in accordancewith temperature conditions and means for shielding the thermostatagainst extraneous temperature variations.

4:. A device for controlling the flow of steam to a radiator comprising,in combination, a body member having two chambers separated by apartition, one of said chambers being a high pressure chamber adapted tobe connected with a source of steam under pressure and the other being alow pressure chamber adapted to be connected with the interior of aradiator, the partition having an opening provided with a valve seat inthe end that terminates in the high pressure chamber, the opposite wallof the low pressure chamber having an opening in axial alignment withthe opening in the partition, a valve stem extending through the lowpressure chamber and through the two openings, the end of the valve stemthat extends into the high pressure chamber being provided with anenlarged head adapted to cooperate with the valve seat to prevent steamfrom flowing from the high pressure chamber into the low pressurechamber, means for forming a seal between the valve stem and the openingin the outer wall of the low pressure chamber, means comprising a springfor exerting a pressure on the valve tending to move it away from itsseat and into the high pressure chamher, said body member having a thirdchamber adapted to be connected with the exhaust side of the radiator, ahollow member forming a thermostat chamber and having its in teriorconnecting with the interior of the last mentioned chamber, a thermostatwithin the thermostat chamber, means connecting the valvewith thethermostat so that the valve will be moved inwardly into the highpressure chamber when the temperature within the thermostat chamberdecreases below a predetermined value and a shield enclosing thethermostat chamber.

5. A device for controlling the flow of steam to a radiator comprising,in combination, a body member having two chambers lit) to beConnectedwith a source of steam under pressure and the other being a lowpressure chamber adapted to be connected withthe interior of a radiator,the partition havingqan opening provided-with a valve' seat,the oppositewall of thelofw pressure chamber'having an opening, a valvestementending through this openingand-guided in the partition opening, saidstem having a valve within the high pressure chamber adapted tocooperate with the valve seat to control the flow of steam between thehigh and the low pressure chamhere, means for forming a seal between thevalve stem and the opening in the outer wall of the low pressurechamber, resilient means mounted outside th'echambers and cooperatingwith the valve stem for normally holding the valve away from the seat,saidbody; member having a third chamber adapted to be connected withthe'exhaust side ofa radiator, a hollowmemberjforming athermostatchamher and having its interior in communication with thethird chamber, a thermostat within the thermostat chamber, meansconnecting the; thermostat with the valve so that the valve will move toopen position when the temperature within the thermostat chamberdecreases below a predeterminedvalue, saidthermostat 1 chamber having anopening in communication with the atmosphere,,sa id, peningi'being.

formed by a tubular member (87 withwhich the escapingsteam cooperates toforma seal,

6. A device for controlling the flow of steam to aradiator comprising,in combination, a body member-having two' chambers separated by apartition, one of said chambers being a high pressure chamber adapted tobe connected witha source of steam under pressure and theother being alow pressure chamber adapt-ed to be connected with the interior of aradiat0r,;the partition' having an opening provided with a valveseat,the oppositewall of the low pressure cl'iamb'er having an o ifening, avalve stem extending through this openingand-guided in the partitionopen ing, said stem having valve'within' the high pressure chamberadapted to cooperate with the valve seat to control the flow of steambetween the high a'nd'the-low pressure'chambers, means for forming aseal between the valve stem and the-opening in theouter wall of the lowpressure chamber,-resili'entmeans for normally holding the valve awayfrom the seat, said body member having a third chamber adaptedto beconnected withthe exhaust side of a-radiator, a hollow member formingatherm'ostat chamber and having its interior in communication with thethird chamber, a thermostat within the thermostat chamber, meansconnecting the thermostat with the valve so that the valve will-move toopenposition when the'tempe-rature within the thermo- 1 stat chamberdecreases below a predetermined value, said thermostat chamber having anopeningin commuincation with the atmosphere,sa1d opening being formed bya-tubu1ar member (87) with which the escaping steam cooperates'to form aseal and a shield'enclosing the thermostat chamber.

7. A regulator for controlling the flow of steam comprising, incombination, a body member provided with two chambers, one of which isadapted to be connected with the source of steam and the other of whichis adapted to be connected to a radiator, said chamber being separatedby a partition having an opening, a movable valve member for controllingthe flow of steam through the closed position against the'tension of thespring when the thermostatic means is subjected to a temperature above apredeten mined value.

j 8. A steam regulator for a railway car heating system which includes asteam train pipe and a radiator, said steam regulator be: ing providedwith a high pressure chamber connected with the train pipe, alowpressure chamber connected with the radiator anda port between saidchambers, anda thermostat chamber connected with the radiator, a valvein thehigh pressure chamber, a reciprocating valve operating rodextending into and through the low pressure chamber into the highpressure chamber, a thermostat element in the thermostat chamber,mechanism positioned outside the chamber for imparting movements to saidvalve operating ro'd comprising a bell crank, a rod extending from thethermostatic element for rocking the bellcrank and a spring whichisst'res'sed by the valve closing movements of the bellcrank.

9.. A steam regulator rorraiiway car heating system which includes asteam train pipe and a radiator, said steam regulator being providedwith a high pressure chamber connected with the trainpipe, a lowpressure chamber connected with the radiator and a port between saidchambers, a valve in'the highpressure chamber, a reciprocating valveoperating rod extending through the low pressure chamber into the highpressure chamber, mechanism for imparting, movements to said valveoperating'rod' comprising a bellcrankconnected with said rod, athermostatic element for rocking the bellcrank, and a spring locatedoutof contact with the steam passing through the regulator i and normallytending to open the valve which is stressed by the valve closingmovements of the hellcrank.

10. A steam regulator for a railway car heating system which includes asteam train pipe and a radiator, said steam regulator being providedwith high and lOW pressure chambers communicating with said train pipeand radiator, respectively, a valve to control communication betweensaid chambers, a thermostatic member for operating said valve, a housinghaving an outlet for water of condensation which, except for saidoutlet, completely encloses the thermostat, and a drip pipe on thehousing having a flexible section which extends close to the track.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

WALTER PARKS.

